The 19-time Grand Slam champion can add pressure on world No. 1 Rafael Nadal – who withdrew from the event with a knee injury – if he wins an eighth title in his home country and close the gap at the top of the ATP rankings to just 1,060 points.

Federer faces a tricky opener against American teenager Frances Tiafoe – who took him to five sets in the first round of the US Open – with either France’s Benoit Paire or USA’s Steve Johnson awaiting the winner in the next round.

Tiafoe caused Federer problems in New York (Picture: AFP/Getty)

Nadal is being pursued by Federer at the top of the rankings (Picture: Getty)

Despite his excellent record on home soil, the 36-year-old is not taking anything for granted and arrived early to practise and he’s hopeful that he’s allowed to grow into the event on Tuesday.

‘I’m really hoping to win that first one and then sort of get into the tournament,’ he said ahead of his opening match against Tiafoe.

‘I have a really tough draw as well if you just look one round ahead with Benoit Paire or Steve Johnson – I usually don’t do that but it’s a tough little section for an ATP 500. It’s a tough start so I don’t know what to expect, personally.

Del Potro is in the hunt to reach the ATP Finals (Picture: AFP/Getty)

Federer is hoping to keep up his good recent form (Picture: Getty)

‘Thankfully [feeling the pressure] has not been a big issue for me here in Basel because I’ve been in the finals the last 10 times that I have played here, but there’s no guarantee I will do it again this year.

‘So that’s why I arrived early, I’ve practised a lot here on the centre court already, I’m starting to feel the ball better and my body is ready to go, so I’m hoping to play a good tournament.’

Elsewhere, Juan Martin del Potro will be hoping to maintain his late push to reach the ATP World Tour Finals after beating Grigor Dimitrov in Stockholm.